Need tips from small business owners.

DH (dear husband) has started his own small business (the LLC finally went through a few weeks ago). He is having a horrible time marketing. He basically has very very little start up money. He is in the computer repair and computer networking field. (craigslist has only resulted in a bunch of spam, all business he has received has been from word of mouth).

Can anyone recommend any good books/websites/online support groups/etc to help DH (dear husband) along in the marketing side?

We know several small business owners, but what worked for them, won't work for DH (dear husband) because the field of businesses is so different (he has friends that are a plumber, an exterminator, and a dentist).

*ETA, he does have a website and is working on putting meta tags in it.

Comments (7)

Have him make an appointment and go see www.score.org right away. They can help him (free) work out a whole marketing program. He should network, network, network too. Things like the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, put signs up at the local college, talk to small businesses that need computer support but can't afford a full time on site guy, send out brochures to likely suspects, etc. So your plumber, dentist and exterminator should be coming to your dh (dear husband) to get their computers networked properly.

Thanks Tess, I will pass that info along to him. His plumber and exterminator friends work from home/car and have both used him, but the dentist already has a friend doing his computers, but he has sent DH (dear husband) some people...which is really nice.

Are there any computer stores in the area that don't offer repair services? They'd probably be more than willing to let him put some brochures or business cards on their counter. Heck ANY store that'll let him set some business cards on the counter would at least get his name out there. I'd also consider getting an ad in the paper.

I'd be more than willing to help him design some brochures, business cards, etc. for free as long as he doesn't mind having a designed by included at the bottom. I'm trying to get my design stuff going too so maybe we can help each other out.

EmmaLeeah, that's another idea! We have places like DataDoctors and Geek Squad around us, but I am sure there are other places.

I will let you know about the design thing! DH (dear husband) has business cards already, but we've talked about doing brochures, the nice professional looking ones that he needs (since he is charging a professional rate)...but they kind of cost a lot.

He should write a blog and have a drawing for a free cleaning or whatever. He can write an article about computer safety for your communities family newspaper. He can call around teh boy scout troops and offer to teach a class to the boy scouts (which will get his name out). Many people are getting computers for christmas --- he should email everyone offering to set them up and install the software for a flat fee (sure it isn't tech, but it wil get his foot in the door for when there is a problem)

Is he on LinkedIn and does he tweet about computer things --- like the best free virus software, etc.

Has he sent his contact info to the computer repair firms that might have overflow business. Has he joined the Rotary or Kiwanis clubs or Lions AND the chamber of commerce (some are now highlighting new member businesses), where he can meet other business people who might have a need.

How about volunteering in your children's school tech department so they might through him some work. Or offer to teach a class at the richest school in the district for cyber safety (which will get his name out to people who can afford to pay to have someone fix their toys).

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